One of the biggest questions couples have when planning their wedding is “How many hours of photography do we actually need?” And honestly — it’s a great question.
Every wedding day looks different, and what works for one couple might not work for another. So instead of trying to squeeze into a “standard” timeline, it’s best to think about what moments matter most to you.
Do you want those sweet, quiet getting-ready moments with your best friends? Or are you all about the dance floor and want every champagne pop and sparkler send-off captured? This is your day, and your coverage should reflect that.
Why Timeline Flexibility Matters
No matter how perfectly you plan, wedding days have a way of taking on a life of their own. Hair and makeup might run over, the shuttle might be late, or your dad might give a toast that brings everyone to tears (and pushes things back 10 minutes).
This is totally normal. The last thing you want on your wedding day is to feel rushed. A thoughtful photography timeline gives you room to breathe, soak it in, and actually enjoy every part of the day.
When you book me, I’ll help you build a timeline that allows space for the magic to unfold — not just the posed moments, but the real, in-between ones too.
Common Wedding Moments You Might Want Captured
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Bachelorette Trip
- Arrival Brunch
- Bridal Portraits
- Getting Ready
- First Look
- Couple Portraits
- Bridal Party Photos
- Family Photos
- Ceremony
- Extended Family Photos
- Cocktail Hour
- Reception
- After Party
- Day-After Brunch or Session
You definitely don’t need to include all of these — but seeing them laid out can help you figure out what’s important to you.
Getting Ready
I know it sounds wild, but one hour for getting ready is almost never enough. This is the part of the day where things usually start running behind. Between hair, makeup, details, and getting dressed, time can disappear quickly.
During this time, your photographer is typically capturing your dress, shoes, invitation suite, bridesmaids’ gifts, robe photos, first looks with parents or bridesmaids, mini bridal portraits, and more.
✨ Pro Tip: Build in extra buffer time here. It keeps the morning calm and allows us to capture those little moments that end up meaning the most later on.
FIRST LOOK
A first look allows you to spend more time with your partner on the morning of your wedding day, instead of, traditionally, waiting until the ceremony to see them. You can take this time to read letters to each other, or simply just be, embrace, and take in that moment of intimacy to yourselves. From a photography perspective, doing a first look allows us to take photos before the ceremony, leaving you to enjoy more of your cocktail hour instead of having to cram ALL of our photos (wedding party, family, + your couples portraits) into a single hour, if not less.
A common fear / hesitation I get from couples is that if they do a first look, their partner won’t be as emotional when they walk down the aisle later on — and I’ve actually found this to be the total opposite! Nothing can take away from seeing your person walk down the aisle to a beautiful song, with all of your friends & family surrounding you. I’ve seen many brides / grooms still tear up (if not more) walking down the aisle even after doing a first look earlier in the day! With that said — you should never feel pressured into making a decision for your wedding day that doesn’t feel right to you– I fully support whatever decision you make! First look or not, we will create a timeline that’s perfect for you + that includes all the things that make you happy
Another thing I recommend if you aren’t into public speaking.. you can write personal vows and share them with one another in total privacy during this time!
COUPLE PHOTOS
This will be right after the first look usually. Couples portraits are one of my favorite parts of the day and your chance to get all the sweet, intimate pics of you, so I’ll take as much time as I can get with you both! I recommend setting aside at least 45 minutes on your wedding day before and/or after the ceremony for couples portraits. We can also plan to go back out later at sunset depending on when your ceremony occurs!
FAMILY + BRIDAL PARTY PHOTOS
Both of these are very dependent on size. For family portraits, it’s a good idea to split these into group combinations. I recommend narrowing down family portraits to 8-12 total combinations. If you do a first look, we can do the majority of couples and family photos prior to the ceremony!
CEREMONY
Ceremony length totally depends on the type of ceremony you’re wanting to have! A short and sweet ceremony might last 15-20 minutes; something more in depth (like a church service) might last more around 30-45 minutes. Either way, I would over estimate and leave some cushion room!
RECEPTION
The reception is where most of the days events are going to occur– dances, cake cutting, etc. You have options!! If you aren’t all about cutting the cake and more traditional things like bouquet and garter toss, don’t feel like you have to do them! There are so many other options! Depending on your coverage package, let’s chat about send off options when we start to create your timeline!
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE
As much as we wish.. we aren’t unicorns and unfortunately we can’t be in all places at once! I would recommend overestimating for time if you want photos of everything! If your package doesn’t come with a second shooter, I would recommend adding one on if you want more photos of your day!
I hope this helps and as always, don’t be afraid to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Morgan Wirth specializes in wedding and elopement photography. She focuses on real life + candid reactions!
